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I'm free to say whatever I like, if it's wrong or right it's alright

2012 Olympic Football TV Schedule

Over the next two weeks the Canadian Sports Media Blog will feature sport-by-sport TV schedules for every Olympic sport that is broadcast live on Canada TV during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. I will post about two per night, so keep checking back to see the schedule for your favourite sport.

First up is football. Canada has qualified in the women’s football tournament by finishing second in CONCACAF Qualifying at home in Vancouver in January. Canada is ranked 7th in the world. They are joined in Group F by 2011 World Champions Japan, Sweden (ranked 4th in the world) and South Africa.

The men’s tournament is essentially an junior tournament with under-23 players. Each team is allowed three overage players as well. The men’s tournament will feature big name players including Aaron Ramsey, Daniel Sturridge, Craig Bellamy, Ryan Giggs and Tom Cleverly on the host British team. Other well-known players include Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez on Uruguay; Carlos Salcido on Mexico; Thiago Silva, Marcelo and Alexandre Pato on Brazil; and David de Gea, Jordi Alba, Javo Martinez and Juan Mata on Spain.

A total of 9 men’s games and 12 women’s games are scheduled to air on Canada’s Broadcast Consortium. Remember that this schedule is highly subject to change. Check back daily during The Games for an up-to-date broadcast schedule. All times are Atlantic Daylight Time, which is BST-4 and EDT+1.

The amateur status thing is on a sport by sport basis — each sport has its own governing body that sets the rules. That’s why (as far as I recall) they didn’t have any professional baseball players while baseball was an Olympic sport.

Baseball had lots of pros. Just none from Major League Baseball because it was never agreed on by the league and the players to take part (as far as I know neither really wanted to). There were lots of pro players from the Japanese league, for example.